ine pounders,
and sixty-eight men; which was taken in tow, and carried safely into
Porto Ferrajio: they arrived at that port on the 27th, and found there
six of his majesty's ships at anchor.

After employing upwards of a month, in refitting ships, and obviating
various objections which had been unexpectedly made to the embarkation
of the troops and stores from Elba, on the 29th of January 1797, the
whole being embarked in twelve sail of transports, La Minerve, with the
Romulus, Southampton, Dido, Dolphin, Dromedary, and Sardine, sailed from
Porto Ferrajio.

Sir Gilbert Elliot, the late Viceroy of Corsica, since Lord Minto; with
the ingenious Colonel Drinkwater, Secretary at War for that island; and
the rest of the establishment; took their passage in La Minerve, with
Commodore Nelson: who, on his way to Gibraltar, looked into the ports of
the respective enemies, that he might be enabled to ascertain, and
report to the commander in chief, the apparent state of the combined
fleet.

On the 30th, he parted from the convoy, accompanied by the Romulus; and,
on the 1st of February, looked into Toulon harbour. They took, on the
5th, a small Spanish felucca; and, on the 6th, another. On the 9th,
looked into the harbour of Carthagena; and, on the 10th, safely moored
in Rosier Bay, Gibraltar: a few days after the Spanish fleet from
Carthagena had been seen to pass through the Straits.

The next day, Commodore Nelson had the pleasure to receive on board
Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, with all the seamen belonging to La
Minerve, who had been liberated, by the Spaniards, and returned to
Gibraltar, in consequence of his judicious applications.

Anxious to join Sir John Jervis, that he might partake in the glory of
an expected engagement between the two fleets, on Saturday, the 11th, at
half past two in the afternoon, La Minerve weighed, and made sail; when,
on proceeding westward to the appointed place of rendezvous, two Spanish
ships of the line, cut or slipped from Algesiras, and gave chase. La
Minerve, however, making all possible sail, left them fast; and, in the
evening, was within four leagues of Cape Spartel.

In the morning of the 12th, at half past three, the report of several
guns was heard; which, there seemed little doubt, proceeded from the
Spanish fleet. The commodore, therefore, bore up to the northward.

Next morning, the 13th, he saw two strange sail bearing north
north-west, after which he made sail; and